Aviendha
"Avi, haven't seen you in a while."
Golden hair pinned at the nape of her neck, knotted in the figure of a rose, Elayne was the figure of elegance, as ever. Her face sagged slightly with lines of sadness, and the immense age that had been incurred in these last few weeks of torment. However, her mouth was set in a smile, and her posture upright, quite unlike the sobbing form she had been mere days ago. Perhaps a weight had been lifted from her shoulders- aside from the literal fashion, as she pushed her twins in a stroller before herself.
Aviendha knelt, and smiled down at the little babies. Both asleep, they wore white, matching their mother's sleek gown. "Well, we've both been busy, apparently." She prodded one of their little hands, and the child unconsciously grasped her finger. "Did you decide on names yet?"
"Birgitte and Gawyn Junior." Elayne looked down at her children, and the corner of her mouth twitched. "What else could I call them?"
Aviendha opened her mouth, but no words came out. The bells of the church rang loudly, drowning out her hoarse attempt at a response. Elayne quickly obliged the ringing bells, and turned the stroller around. Together, Elayne and Aviendha walked towards the open doors of the chapel.
Empty, for the most part, the chapel was cold, and unwelcoming. An empty coffin had an ominous presence, sitting at the center of the room on a pedestal, radiating discomfort. Upon entering the room, the twins both woke, and the little girl began to scream and cry. With the desperation of any new mother, Elayne picked up her daughter, and gently rocked her back to comfort. Holding her daughter in her arms, she brought her son in the stroller up to the front, right before the coffin representative of their father.
Aviendha and Elayne took their seats. Still holding her baby daughter in her arms, Elayne leaned back. Aviendha saw her best friend's eyes glaze over, her mouth set in a smile that was just too pretty to be real. The makeup around her eyes was smeared, she noted, as was that under her nose and around her lips. Knowing that Elayne was still upset, that she still cried, that was devastating. Aviendha felt her own smile crack, and tore her eyes away from Elayne's face, only to find herself glaring at the coffin.
Elayne set Birgitte back in the stroller, and methodically rocked her back and forth. Gawyn began to whine, twisting his little pink face into a knot. With a reluctant sigh, Elayne lifted Gawyn from his seat, and held him up. "Avi, can you take-"
With a jolt, Aviendha stood. "I'll be right back." Eyes still fixated on the coffin, she bustled down the aisle, hurrying out as quickly as she had entered. A crowd had gathered. As she forced her way through the incoming masses, Aviendha heard a smothering amount of condolences coming from the mouths of strangers. None had any impact.
Finding herself suddenly in the tree grove just past the chapel, Aviendha shoved a hand into her pocket. Shaking, she withdrew a box of cigarettes, and flicked it open. Pulling one out, Aviendha rooted through her opposite pocket for a lighter, and eventually, lit the cigarette. It took a moment, as both of her hands shook almost uncontrollably. Shoving the lighter back into her pocket, Aviendha took in a deep breath. The taste overwhelmed her senses, and she closed her eyes to further intensify that feeling. Choking back a cough, Aviendha breathed out a ream of smoke, exhaling with it her anxiety.
Aviendha placed a hand on her belt, and felt around the leather for her badge. Instead, the cool metal of her gun shocked her fingers on contact, and she opened her eyes. Seeing the cigarette in her hand, she dropped it immediately, stomping it out with the heel of her boot. Shaking out the tension in her shoulders, Aviendha clenched her hands into fists. Shoving one fist into her pocket, she pulled out the pack, and glared down at it.
"It'll either be you or that badge that gets me killed..." She muttered, under her breath, staring at the label of the smokes. The colors of it swam before her eyes, and she shut them again. All she could see behind her eyelids was not darkness, but a face.
Aviendha felt a familiar hand placed on her shoulder, and smiled. The light, pleasant voice whispered, "Are you alright?" She opened her eyes, and found that her own hand rested on her shoulder. No one was there.
Taking a step back, Aviendha's heel crunched on the pack of cigarettes that she had dropped. Raising one hand to her neck, Aviendha fingered the silver snowflakes hidden behind her neatly starched collar. Gritting her teeth, and squeezing the chain in between her fingers, she was barely able to withhold tears.
The church bells rang again, snapping Aviendha out of this odd mood. Snapping her hands to her sides, the woman took a deep breath, and resumed her calm. Not hesitating, but not rushing, Aviendha made her way back into the church.
Reaching the chapel, Aviendha found that the entirety of the room was flooded with people. Some she recognized, some she did not. All knew who she was, though, and nodded their heads in respect. Awkward and alone, Aviendha did not make eye contact with anyone, instead staring straight ahead, finally taking a seat beside Elayne.
The golden haired mother held an expression of worry in the creases of her forehead, while she held in her arms both of her tiny, golden haired children. Offering reassurance in the form of a genuine smile, Aviendha was gladdened to see Elayne's shoulders relax. Both of the women were shocked, though, when a voice echoed in the hall.
"Hi, everyone. I'm not a fan of public speaking, so I'm going to keep this brief."
Min's hair, formerly cropped to her shoulders, now sported an undercut, carelessly left unstyled. Dark eyes accented by the white outfit she wore, Min appeared stoic and calm. Her fingers, tapping on the podium behind which she stood, gave her nervousness away. Aviendha felt her smile disappear as she made eye contact with Min. They had not seen each other in several weeks, but that connection between the two, the unspoken feeling of mutual respect, admiration, and love, gave the both of them strength to go on- Aviendha not to break down, and Min, to speak.